JPH0237091Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a coin sorting device installed inside a public telephone or the like and capable of sorting various types of coins inserted into the public telephone or the like. This invention relates to a coin sorting device that can sort coins by minimizing the distance from a coin input port to the end of a coin accumulation track.

[Prior Art] A coin sorting device for sorting various types of coins in a conventional public telephone or the like is shown in FIGS. 4a and 4b.

Conventionally, this type of coin sorting device has a structure that separates one type of coin from one track plate as shown in Fig. 4a, and one that separates several types of coins from one track plate as shown in Fig. 4b. Some coin sorters have a structure that has as many sorting sections as there are coin types.

First, a conventional coin sorting device 50 shown in FIG.
In this case, a track plate 51 along which inserted coins are guided is erected at an angle, and a coin insertion slot 52 is provided at the upper part of the track plate 51. A predetermined type of coin C1 is inserted from this input port 52.
Coins C1 can only be inserted into the sorting section 53.
be led to. The sorting section 53 electronically detects the type of coin, and if the coin is a proper coin, it is sent to the subsequent storage section 54, and if it is a defective coin, it is ejected from this section and returned to the outside through a return slot. The storage section 54 stores a certain amount of coins C1 after passing through the sorting section 53, and stores them in the device or returns them to the outside depending on the number of calls made by the user.

Next, a conventional coin sorting device 60 shown in FIG.
A plurality of types of coins, for example two types of coins C1 and C2, can be inputted from the input port 62 at the top of the track plate 61. Coins C1 and C2 inserted from the input port 62
is sent to the first sorting section 63a. This first sorting section 63a detects coins electronically,
If the coin matches a predetermined type of coin C1 that can be sorted, it is sent to the subsequent first storage section 64a, and if it is another type of coin, it is sent to the second sorting section 63b. The second sorting section 63b sorts only coins C2 of a predetermined type, and if the coins match this type, the coins are sent to the subsequent second storage section 64b. Of the coins inserted, only C1 and C2 are accepted by the first and second sorting sections 63a and 63b, and other types of coins and defective coins are discharged from these first and second sorting sections. and then returned to the outside of the device. First and second storage sections 63a, 63b
Then, the coins C1 and C2 are accumulated and stored or returned according to the number of calls made by the user.
Furthermore, in order to sort other types of coins in this type of conventional coin sorting device 60, it is necessary to provide third, fourth, etc. storage sections according to the number of coin types.

[Problems to be solved by the invention] In these conventional coin sorting devices, the coin sorting device 50 shown in FIG. 4a has only one type of coin C.
If you want to use multiple types of coins, you need to use coin sorting devices 5 for the necessary types.
0 must be added for each unit, which increases the installation space and requires coin slots to be provided in multiple locations, making the device difficult to handle.

Furthermore, the conventional coin sorting device 60 shown in FIG.
In this case, there is only one slot 62 for storing multiple types of coins C.
1 and C2, but it requires a sorting section for only the type of coin, that is, the first sorting section 63a can sort only coins C1, and the second sorting section 63b can only sort coins C2. Since different types of coins are not accepted, this also needs to be added for each unit.

Also, the coins C2 to be sorted by the second sorting section 63b
is transferred to the second sorting section 63b after passing through the first sorting section 63a.
A coin transfer mechanism is added to 63b, making the operation complicated.

In view of the above-mentioned circumstances, this invention provides a coin sorting device in which many types of coins can be inputted from a single input port, and the coins are sorted in a single sorting section, and the entire device can be miniaturized. The purpose is to

[Means for solving the problems] Next, the means for solving the above problems are as follows.
Embodiments will be explained with reference to drawings corresponding to embodiments.

That is, the present invention includes: a track plate 4; a detection device 9 provided on the track plate 4 for electrically detecting the type of coins inserted and defective coins; a discharge mechanism 14 for discharging detected defective coins and extra inserted coins; and a discharging mechanism 14 for discharging defective coins detected by 1st
and second storage tracks 6a, 6b; provided near the entrances of the first and second storage tracks 6a, 6b;
It consists of a plate body that can freely protrude or withdraw from a slit formed on the track plate 4 on the plate surface of the track plate 4 according to the output of the detection device 9, and is detected by the detection device 9. a sorting mechanism 21 that guides the coins to the first accumulation track 6a when the coins are ejected and guides the coins to the second accumulation track 6b and distributes the coins accordingly; Holding mechanisms 23d and 24d are installed near the end of the storage track so as to be able to move forward and backward into the storage track to hold the coins sorted into the storage track; Stepped portions 18a and 19a formed over the length of approximately one coin
There is a coin sorting device equipped with and.

According to the coin sorting device according to the present invention, the detection device detects many types of coins and defective coins, the discharge mechanism discharges the defective coins, and the sorting mechanism sorts the plurality of coins by type. The sorted coins are stored by a plurality of adjacent storage tracks, respectively, and the ejecting means and sorting means are operated by a control circuit.

[Example] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on an illustrated example.

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the coin sorting device according to this invention, Figure 2 is a back view of the device, Figures 3 a, b,
c is a diagram showing the operation of the device.

In FIG. 1, the coin sorting device 1 includes a track plate 4
, a detecting section 5 and an accumulating section 6 attached to the track plate 4.

The track plate 4 is supported by the side plates 2, 2 so that its front surface 4a side is inclined at a positive slope.
A detection device 5 is provided on the upper part of the track plate 4,
Here, the type of coin is detected from the diameter, thickness, material, etc. of the coin, and defective coins are ejected and returned to the outside of the device.

The detection device 5 includes a flapper 8 that can guide coins from directly below the input slot 3 into which coins are inserted to the entrance of the storage section 6, and a detection device 9 that detects the coins being guided. The flapper 8 is the raceway plate 4
It is rotatably supported on the front side of the raceway plate 4 about a support shaft 10 that is inclined relative to the ground, and is always biased in the direction of the raceway plate 4 by a spring 11. The flapper 8 also has a guide block 1 extending over its lower edge.
2 is attached, and a discharge port 13 is opened at the lower part of the support shaft 10 of the flapper 8.
This block 12 is formed to be slightly thicker than the thickness of the coin, and the coins inserted from the insertion slot 3 are guided in the direction of arrow A along the block 12 between the flapper 8 and the raceway plate 4. It is sent to the storage section 6.

The detection device 9 is capable of detecting up to four types of appropriate coins in this embodiment based on the diameter, thickness, material, etc. of the coin being guided by the flapper 8 by means of a control circuit A consisting of an electronic circuit. , and detects deformed or other defective coins.

Further, a discharge mechanism 14 is provided on the raceway plate 4 at the discharge port 13 of the flapper 8 .
This ejecting mechanism 14 consists of an ejecting lever that always protrudes in the direction of the ejecting port 13 and retracts only when a valid coin passes in response to the detection result by the control circuit A of the detection device 9, and does not protrude when a defective coin is detected. The defective coins are discharged from the discharge port 13.

This evacuation operation of the ejection mechanism 14 is performed by an electromagnet 15 attached to the back surface 4b of the track plate 4, as shown in the back view of FIG.
5 is operated by control circuit A.

An arm mechanism 16 is attached to the upper part of the back surface 4b of the track plate 4, and the arm mechanism 16 is rotatable and has an operating piece 16a that protrudes from the front surface 4a of the track plate 4 and can come into contact with a part of the flap 8. When the abutting portion 16b receives an external force (footing), the actuating piece 16a moves the flapper 8 toward its support shaft 10.
Open it by rotating it around
Eject some coins.

The coins discharged from the flapper 8 and the discharge port 13 are returned to the outside of the device from the return port.

The coins determined to be appropriate by the detecting section 5 are delivered from the terminal end 8b of the flapper 8 to the lower storage section 6.

The storage section 6 has an upper end plate 17, a middle end plate 18, and left and right lower end plates 19, 20, which are tilted and provided at predetermined intervals on the front surface 4a of the track plate 4, to prevent coins from rolling. A track space is formed, and a first storage track 6a and a second storage track 6b are formed between the upper, middle, and lower end plates 17, 18, and 19, and each can store coins. Therefore, the thickness of each of the end plates 17, 18, 19, and 20 is formed to be slightly thicker than the thickness of a coin, and a thin plate-like cover 7 is provided on each of the end plates 17, 18, 19, and 20.
is attached to cover the surface of the coin to prevent the coin from falling off. These first storage track 6a and second storage track 6b can store two types of coins of different types, each with approximately the same diameter, adjacent to each other, and the storage section 6 can store a total of four types of coins. be.

A sorting mechanism 21 distributes the coins into the first and second storage tracks 6a and 6b into two types.

The sorting mechanism 21 includes upper and middle end plates 17,
18, that is, the first and second accumulation tracks 6
a, 6b, and the front surface 4a of the track plate 4
It is made up of a substantially <-shaped plate body that can freely protrude, and is operated by an electromagnet 22 shown in FIG. 2 by a control circuit A in response to the detection result of the detection device 5.
Two types of coins C that can be accumulated in the first accumulation orbit 6a
When the detection device 5 detects the coins C1 and C2, the sorting mechanism 21 protrudes from the front surface 4a of the track plate 4 and guides the coins C1 and C2 in the direction B, and transfers them to the second accumulation track 6.
When the detection device 5 detects the coins C3 and C4 that are accumulated in the number b, the sorting mechanism 21 retreats from the front surface 4a of the track plate 4 toward the back surface 4b and collects the coins C3 and C4.
3. Guide C4 in direction C.

At the lower ends of the first storage track 6a and the second storage track 6b, there are a first storage lever 23 and a second storage lever 2 for storing coins in these storage tracks.
4, and a return lever 25 are provided.

First storage lever 23, second storage lever 24
As shown in FIG. 2, each swing base 23a,
24a is pivoted to the back surface 4b of the raceway plate 4, and further, each actuating piece 23b, 24b is attached to the front surface 4b of the raceway plate 4.
Electromagnets 26a, 26b always protrude on the a side.
are operated by the control circuit A, so that the actuating pieces 23b, 24b can further protrude above the raceway plate 4. These first storage levers 23,
The actuating pieces 23b, 24b of the storage lever 24 are connected to the first,
A storage hole slightly larger than the thickness of the coin is provided at the back of each operating piece 23b, 24b, and is provided below with a step H in the coin height direction from the end portion of the second storage track 6a, 6b. 23c, 24
c is provided, and when storing coins, that is, the first,
If the respective operating pieces 23b, 24b protrude further forward when the second storage levers 23, 24 are operated,
The coins on each storage lever 23, 24 fall from the storage holes 23c, 24c in the direction of the entrance of the vault (not shown) located below, that is, in the direction D in the drawing, and are stored in the vault provided below. be done.

In addition, the first and second storage levers 23, 2
There are first and second holding mechanisms 23 near the center of 4.
The first and second holding mechanisms 23d and 24d can protrude from the front surface 4a of the track plate 4 only when the first and second storage levers 23 and 24 are operated.

As shown in FIG. 2, the return lever 25 has a swinging base 25a pivoted to the lower part of the back surface 4b of the track plate 4, and left and right operating pieces 25b, 25c projecting to the left and right from the upper part of the swinging base 25a. the first on the track plate 4;
Each operating piece 25 protrudes from the end of the second storage track 6a, 6b at a position separated by one coin, and is operated by an electromagnet 28 operated by the control circuit A.
b and 25c simultaneously move in the direction of retracting from above the track plate 4. Each of the operating pieces 25b, 25c can be moved in the left and right direction for adjustment within the left and right windows 4d, 4e formed in the track plate 4, and the first and second accumulation tracks 6a, 6b are adjusted according to the diameter of the coins to be accumulated. The distance from the end can be adjusted.

When the return lever 25 is operated, the first accumulation track 6a
The coins accumulated in the second accumulation track 6b move toward the return port, that is, the direction E in the drawing, and the coins accumulated in the second accumulation track 6b move from the discharge port 7a of the cover 7 to the track plate 4.
The items are discharged to the front, that is, in the direction F in the drawing, and both are returned to the outside through the return port.

Further, at the terminal ends of the raceway surfaces on the upper surfaces of the middle and lower end plates 18 and 19, step portions 18a and 19a each having a length approximately the length of one coin are provided, and a cover to be closed is provided. Regulating plates 7b and 7c for height adjustment are provided in this part of 7 so as to be movable in the height direction of the coin, and first and second holding mechanisms 23d and 24d protrude above track plate 4. When the coin vibrates, these stepped portions 18a, 1
9a and regulation plates 7b and 7c.

Further, first and second sensors 27a and 27 are installed at the entrances of the first and second storage tracks 6a and 6b, respectively.
b are provided, and these first and second sensors 27
a and 27b detect the number of coins that can be stored in the first and second storage tracks 6a and 6b, and when the number of coins that can be stored is exceeded, a detection signal is sent to the ejecting mechanism 14. It is designed to eject coins from.

Next, the operation of the coin sorting device of the embodiment configured as above will be explained.

First, the accumulation state of coins shown in FIG. 3a will be explained.

As shown in the figure, the appropriate coins detected by the detection device 5 are sorted by a sorting mechanism 21 according to their type.
and are stored in the storage track 6. In the first accumulation track 6a, there are two types of coins C with a slightly smaller diameter.
1 and C2, and two types of slightly larger diameter coins C3 and C4 are stored in the second storage track 6b.
In this state, since no coin is detected by the first sensor 27a, it is possible to store one more coin C1 or C2 in the first storage track 6a. On the other hand, the second sensor 27b has already detected the presence of the coin C3, and since neither the coins C3 nor C4 can be stored in the second storage track 6b, the detection device 5 must detect the coins C3 and C4. In this case, even if the coin is a proper coin, it will be returned to the outside by the detection device 5.

Next, FIG. 3b shows the state in which coins are stored. The types, order of storage, amounts, etc. of all the coins accumulated in the accumulation track 6 are stored in the control circuit A based on the detection results of the detection device 5. Coin storage is determined by the user's frequency of use, and the control circuit A sends a storage signal and operates the first and second storage levers 23 and 24 to move the coins into the safe in the direction of D in the drawing. (not shown). The first coin C2 or C4 stored at this time is
The actuating pieces 23b and 24b are stored in the housing holes 23c and 24c that protrude only when the actuating pieces 23b and 24b protrude. The second and subsequent coins are temporarily held at the steps 18a and 19a of the middle and lower end plates 18 and 19 by the first and second holding mechanisms 23d and 24d, and then are held by the storage levers 23 and 24. As it is retracted, it rolls again, and the first and second storage levers 23, 2
You will be on top of 4.

The actuating pieces 23b, 24b of the first and second storage levers 23, 24 can protrude into the coin passage from the terminal ends of the storage tracks 6a, 6b.
The second holding mechanisms 23d and 24d can adjust the mounting position up and down according to the diameter of the coin, so two types of coins can be stored in one storage track (for example, coin C1 and coin C1 in the first storage track 6a). C2) can be fixed at a position where both can be held.

Next, FIG. 3C shows the state in which the coin is returned. The coins are returned by hanging the handset after the user ends the call. At the time of return, the operating pieces 25b and 25c of the return lever 25 are connected to the electromagnet 28.
As a result of the operation of the coins, the coins are evacuated from the top of the track plate 4 as shown in the figure, so all the coins accumulated on the first and second accumulation tracks 6a and 6b are ejected from the directions of arrows E and F in the figure, and are returned to the return slot (not shown). ) will be returned to. Further, the actuating pieces 25b, 25c can move the windows 4d, 4e in the left and right direction, and the first and second holding mechanisms 23
This actuating piece 25b, 25c from the position d, 24d
The distance between the first and second holding mechanisms 23d and 23d in the above-mentioned storage state can be adjusted according to the diameter of the coin.
24d and the actuating pieces 23b, 24b can also operate satisfactorily.

It should be noted that a small-diameter coin group C is placed in the first accumulation track 6a.
1 and C2, and large diameter coin groups C3 and C4 were stored in the second storage orbit, but conversely, the first
A group of large-diameter coins is placed on the second accumulation trajectory 6a, and the second accumulation trajectory 6a
A group of small diameter coins can be stored in b.

[Effects of the invention] As described above, according to the coin sorting device according to the present invention, a detection device is provided on one track plate, a plurality of types of coins are appropriately sorted, and based on this sorting, The control circuit operates the ejecting mechanism to eliminate defective coins, and further operates the sorting mechanism to distribute the various types of coins to a plurality of corresponding storage tracks, so that almost all the coins at the end of each storage track are collected. By creating a step in the length of each coin, it is possible to store coins of different diameters in the same storage track, eliminating the problem of coin jamming and storing multiple types of coins on the same track surface. It can be efficiently sorted and stored on the top, making it economically possible to downsize.

Further, according to the present invention, the first accumulation track 6a and the second accumulation track 6b for sorting and accumulating the plurality of types of coins are arranged adjacent to each other on the same plate surface of the single track plate 4 without any difference in level. Since the space factor is good in the thickness direction, the distribution mechanism 21 that distributes coins to the first accumulation track 6a and the second accumulation track 6b according to the output from the detection device 9 is , can be freely projected onto or retracted from the plate surface of the track plate 4, and when projected, the coins are transferred to the first storage track 6a.
The structure and operation of the sorting mechanism are simple, and the flow of coins during the sorting operation is simple. There is no waste, easy assembly and maintenance, and fewer accidents due to coin jamming.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the coin sorting device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a back view of the device, FIG. 3a is a view showing the storage state of the device, and FIG. 3b
FIG. 3C is a diagram showing the device in a stored state, FIG. 3C is a diagram showing the device in a returned state, and FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams showing a conventional coin sorting device. 1... Coin sorting device, 5... Detection device, 6...
Accumulation trajectory, 6a...first accumulation trajectory, 6b...second accumulation trajectory, 14...discharge mechanism, 21...distribution mechanism, 23d, 24d...holding mechanism.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] track plate 4; a detection device 9 provided on track plate 4 for electrically detecting the type of coins inserted and defective coins; and a detection device 9 provided on track plate 4 for detecting defective coins detected by detection device 9; a discharging mechanism 14 for discharging excess coins;
and second storage tracks 6a, 6b; provided near the entrances of the first and second storage tracks 6a, 6b;
It consists of a plate body that can freely protrude or withdraw from a slit formed on the track plate 4 on the plate surface of the track plate 4 according to the output of the detection device 9, and is detected by the detection device 9. a sorting mechanism 21 that guides the coins to the first accumulation track 6a when the coins are ejected and guides the coins to the second accumulation track 6b and distributes the coins accordingly; Holding mechanisms 23d and 24d are installed near the end of the storage track so as to be able to move forward and backward into the storage track to hold the coins sorted into the storage track; Stepped portions 18a and 19a formed over the length of approximately one coin
A coin sorting device equipped with and.